Month: January 2007

So far, so good. I finished the first of my Stargate projects last night, and got to a good point on #2. I have supplies for two more after this, and two, possibly 3 more ideas. But idea #3 involves sewing that may be more involved than I currently seem to have time for. We’ll see… sendouts aren’t till the 10th, and if I can make it to the fabric store early this weekend, maybe I can get something done on Sunday. After all, it’s not like I care about watching the Super Bowl. The commercials have been predominantly lame for the past couple years, and unlike two years ago with Paul McCartney, I have no desire to watch the halftime show. I don’t think anyone I know is having a party anyway, so given my recent travel/work-induced craziness, it might be nice to have another day at home to relax, crafter-style.

At any rate, I hope to have the stuff done fairly quickly, because I’ve got an entire album of Chile photos to put together (once I get the cardstock I’ll need and the rest of the photos developed) and a very strong, Wardrobe Refashion-induced urge to start sewing clothes again.

Technically, it doesn’t start until the beginning of February, which is fortunate since I’d be breaking the rules already. I’ve been needing a new pair of slippers for awhile, because the pair I had has holes in the bottom and the foam soles are disintegrating. So I found these at K-mart when I had time to kill before teaching and stopped in to see if I could find any supplies for my swap projects. They’re surprisingly soft, for K-mart slippers, and they were on clearance for $3. But, as you can see, they were just plain blue, so I decided to make them a bit more interesting.

$0.20 worth of felt at Joann’s, a needle and thread and an episode and a half of Ugly Betty later… my new slippers!

Pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of “new” manufactured items of clothing.

I Pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle pre-loved items for myself.

I Pledge that I shall create and craft items of clothing for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium.

I Pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that my thriftyness brings!

Here’s what I got in return from taloolah:1. Two revamped camera straps (the one with the buttons is now on my digital)

2. Photography- themed accessories: a barrette and earrings made from film negatives, and a necklace and earrings from slide negatives.3. An embellished film canister. On a random note, I find it ironic that for items from a photography swap, the lighting in these pictures is so bad. But I was in a hurry to take the pictures to get it up in the gallery thread at Craftster, and the lighting in my room is really not that great. And the flash would have completely bleached the items into the rug. (Which, now that I’m looking at that picture, desperately needs to be cleaned. Ugh.)

4. This photo album, which is covered in silk and embellished in beads (gorgeous), and these other pictures.

I’ve started prepwork for several of my Stargate projects too. But that’s all I’ve had time for so far.

Back from Chile, about to jump into the Stargate swap, but here’s what I made for the photography swap:A camera case and lens bag (she’d requested revamped leather if at all possible, and I’d bought a bag at Goodwill to try to do it. Then I took it apart and discovered it was vinyl and icky. Fortunately, I found this great sude look-alike at Joanns in the bargain section, which proved to be much easier to work with.)

A photo album stamped with trees (I’ve decided watermark ink and clear embossing powder is great, and I’m dying to try it in a scrapbook soon)

And a camera bag, appliqued with a tree from the same suede, lined with a leafy fabric (which inspired the applique). The zipper was a bit of a challenge, as was lining it in spite of the zipper, but I was quite proud of this bag. (I lucked out again– I found out that she liked trees after I’d already bought the lining fabric!)

Part 2, what I got in return, will be up as soon as I can actually take the photos, which will hopefully be tomorrow night. And I’ve already got a couple ideas for the Stargate swap, which I started the prelim work for tonight.

And I’ve signed up for the first round of the 2007 Wardrobe Refashion challenge, so now I have to work from my stash! (Well, starting in February anyway, but since all I’m going to be getting are a very limited number of swap supplies, well…)

Through much frantic sewing both Monday and last night, I did manage to finish my last swap project (pictures of which will be posted at a later date, along with the rest of the projects) and got it sent off today.

I’m feeling the crunch from wanting to do more than I can right now. For instance, Craftster.org is currently hosting its first clothing challenge. The category? Clothing inspired by a movie. How up my alley is that? After all, it wouldn’t be the first time. I’ve made severalthingsinspiredbyLord of the Rings(and a couple costumes), and my beloved Inara-inspired Firefly shirt (which, ok, it’s a tv show, but the idea’s the same.) I already have an idea too, based on this dress from the more recent Pride and Prejudice (even though I’m a bigger fan of the Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth version, the clothes in the newer were admittedly better.) But, the deadline for entering is the 31st. I’ve been working extra this week, and on top of that I’m leaving for Chile on Friday and won’t be back until ten days before the deadline. Normally, I’d go for it anyway. But since the Stargate swap sendouts are in early February, between that and my real life I really don’t think I can commit to both. Sigh… maybe I’ll still use the shirt idea at some point anyway.

I’m seriously beginning to look forward to just making stuff for myself again, though that’s not going to happen for at least another month-6 weeks. Sendouts are by Wednesday, I’m going out of town at the end of next week, and then as soon as I get back I need to start on stuff for another swap I signed up for. I’ll be taking a break after this (unless something else unsurpassingly up my alley, like say, Lord of the Rings, comes up), but I couldn’t pass this one up because ohmygosh, STARGATE. I’m already getting ideas too, which I can hopefully use– just need to remind myself I’m still working on photography stuff!!